By Steven Harmon
Monday, December 27th, 2010 at 11:38 am in Uncategorized.

One benefit of Gov.-elect Jerry Brown’s union ties: Free hot dogs.

That’s what one union — the Orange County Employees Association — will be serving, along with chips and water, at an inauguration party Jan. 3, open free to regular folks on the Capitol grounds on the North or L street side of the building.

And apparently, the OCEA is know for its “legendary” hot dogs, though if anyone has ever tried the Dodger Dog against its vaunted reputation, you may want to keep expectations lowered.

The event, co-hosted by Sen. Lou Correa, D-Santa Ana, will go from noon to 2 p.m., after Brown takes his oath of office at 11 a.m. at Memorial Auditorium, and just prior to Brown’s private reception at the California Railroad Museum, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

They’re calling it a celebration of the “people’s governor,” and it’s being carried out in the same low-budget spirit as Brown’s inaugural festivities. Brown’s newly formed inaugural committee is hoping to keep its costs to around $100,000, compared to the multi-million dollar affairs being held across the country for other incoming governors.

The inaugural committee for Rick Scott, Florida’s governor-elect, has raised more than $2.5 million for his events, which include a statewide “appreciation tour” to tout his de-regulation agenda, features concerts, ticketed luncheons in addition to a big parade and inaugural ball.

No word on whether Brown will make an appearance at the people’s party.

As a Giants fan I would rather starve to death than eat a “Dodger Dog.”

And any word on whether Rick Scott has found a way to stick Medicare with his $.5 million party tab?

Tom

Make that $2.5 mm!

John W

Maybe they are going to hand out gift cards to his Florida urgent care centers.

publius

Free Hot Dog?

Is a hot dog that is payed for by tax payer dollars and then given away truly free? After all of the money that unions dumped into Brown’s election I am suprised they can splurge on a “free hot dog” party. Jerry will have to come up with more than hot dogs to repay his union patrons. Get ready for more taxes and more businesses fleeing this once grat state. Pass the mustard……….

John W

Re #4

I don’t think serving lousy hot dogs, paid for with union dues, eaten mostly by public employees who are in town for the event, will corrupt our state government beyond where we are now. If Jerry wants to make his mark on history and be remembered well, he will have to take on the unions with some “shock and awe,” no matter what they did for his campaign. If he just wants the prestige of being governor again, he can just go along to get along. Disaster will ensue. I don’t expect that, but we’ll soon know. As for taxes, can’t happen unless voters go for it. We need both more revenue and smart cuts to deal with the structural deficit, but I don’t see how you can make income and sales taxes even higher than they already are. We need economic growth. That means a better business climate. But it also means smart spending. A good business climate doesn’t just mean lower taxes and less red tape. It also means good schools and infrastructure. As Tom Friedman put it, we need to “cut where we must so that we can invest where we must.”